Washing-machine.



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WHHWZW LDQCDIQPv amw UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcEe VILLlAll/l H. HUNTER, OF TROUTMAN, NORTH CAROLINA.

yWASHING.

-MA/CHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,796, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed August 3, 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Troutman, in the county of Iredell and State of North Carolina, have invented anew and useful Washing-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in Washing-machines.

The object of the presentinvention is to improve the construction ot' that class of washing-machines`employing a weight for holding the washing mechanism in engagement with the clothes and to provide a simple and comparatively-inexpensive machine having a weighted frame for exerting the desired amount of pressure on the clothes independently of the exertion of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to enable the weighted frame to be readily disconnected from the washing mechanism and to Y arrange the legs to support the weighted frame both when it is disconnnected from the washing mechanism and when there are no clothes in the washing-machine.

The invention consists inthe construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figurel is a perspective view of a washing-machine constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, illustrating the manner of supporting the weighted frame by the legs. Fig. 3 is atransverse sectional view.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

1 designates a substantially semicylindrical washing-machine body provided with legs 2 and 3, located at the ends of the body and preferably arranged at an inclination, as shown, and the said body has a cover 4, vhinged at the back at 5 and adapted to be swung upward to open the machine and permit the parts to air and dry thoroughly after the operation of washing has been completed. The cover is provided with hinged lids or sections 6 and 7, adapted to be opened to permit access to the interior of the body for the introduction and Serial No. 726,021. (No model.)

removal of clothes. One end of the body is provided with a trough or extension 8, adapted to receive a Wrnger and arranged to permit the Water expelled from the clothes to drain back into the washing-machine body. The cover is provided at its front end with a depending plate 0r portion 9, which forms the t inner wall of the trough 8, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

The bottom of the washing-machine body is curved and is provided with a clothes-receiving bed 10, consisting of a series of slats or bars disposed transversely of the washingmachiue body and oset from the bottom 11 to provide an intervening space 12 to permit water to iiow beneath the clothes. The slats or bars of the curved bed may be spaced from the bottom of the body by any suitable means; but they are preferably secured at their ends to curved bars 13, located at opposite sides of the body, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

Within the Washing-machine body is arranged an oscillating presser 14, consisting of a frame 15 and rollers 16 and 17, disposed transversely of the body and adapted to roll over and press the clothes against the lower curved bed, whereby the clothes are quickly washed Wit-hout rubbing the same and without wearing, tearing, or otherwise injuring the fabrics. The rollers 16, which arelocated at opposite sides of the roller 17, are larger than the latter and are provided with slats and are adapted to rotate when the oscillating presser is operated. The roller 17 is located adjacent to the lower portions ofthe peripheries of the rollers 16, so that all of the rollers are adapted to engage the clothes arranged on the bed formed by the transverse slats 10. The frame 15 is composed of opposite sides and connecting cross-pieces, and it is provided with plates or castings 18, in which are iixed arms 19 of rods 20, extending upward from the presser, connected by a transverse handle-bar 21 and forming an operating-lever for actuating the said presser.

The arms 19, which form journals for the oscillating presser, are arranged in slotted bearings 22, depending from the cover, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and the sides of the body are provided with corresponding slots IOO which register with the lower portions of the slots of the bearings 22. These slotted bearings permit the oscillating presser to move vertically to adjust itself to the quantity of clothes being washed and to enable the necessary pressure to be applied to-the same.

The pressure is applied to the clothes by means of a weight 23, detachably secured to a lever-frame 24, which is connected by rods 25 with the journals of the oscillating presser, and the said frame 24 consists of a transverse front portion and parallel side portions 26. The front portionof the frame 2l extends across the Washing-machine body, and the side portions 26, which are located at opposite sides thereof, are provided at their inner faces with studs or projections 27, which are engaged by hooks 28 of the rods 25. The lower ends of the rods 25 are bent to form the hooks 28, and their upper ends are provided with hooks 29 to engage the journals of the oscillating presser. By changing the point of connection of the lower end of the rod 25 and varying the size of the weight any desired pressure on the clothes may be obtained. The legs, which are arranged in pairs, converge upwardly, and the rectangular frame, which is inclined, is pivoted to one pair of the legs and is arranged to be supported by the other pair when the connecting-rods are disengaged from the journals.

The washing-machine is provided with handles 30, extending from one end of it, as clearly shown in Fig. l, and the movement of the cover in opening is limited by a chain 3l, connected with the body and with the cover and adapted to support the latter in its open position.

It will be seen that the washing-machine is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that itis capable of washing clothes without wearing or tearing the fabrics, and that the operation of Washing is effected by pressure upon the clothes and not by rubbing the same. It will also be apparent that the pressure on the clothes is produced automatically independently of the operator and that the labor is thereby reduced to a minimum.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claim maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacriflcing any of the advantages of this invention.

What is claimed is- A washing-machine comprising a body having a cover and provided at opposite sides with vertical slots, the oppositely-inclined legs arranged in pairs at the front and back of the body and supporting the same, the presser, the rods 20 located at opposite sides of the body and provided at their lower ends with journals extending through the slots of the body and secured to the presser, a transverse handle connecting the upper ends of the rods 20, the rectangular frame detachably connected by rods 25 with the said journals and fulcrumed on one pair of legs and srs arranged to be supported by the other pair of inclined legs when there are no clothes within the washing-machine and also when it is disconnected from the journals, and a weight connected with the frame, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' WILLIAM H. HUNTER.

Witnesses:

W. W. TURNER, D. E. TURNER. 

